Reservoir inkwell



Feb. 13, 1934. J. c. GILBERT 1,946,969

RESERVOIR INKWELL Filed Aug. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l V JC.GiZZ erZ,

\ 1 @29 7 4.4? MAW 1934- J. c. GILBERT 1,945,969

RESERVOIR I NKWELL Filed Aug. 27, 1928 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 aggggmwmw Mum3i; 3 "1 I g F N 50 anus-1'1 for J. C. Gizberi",

dttoum it Patented Feb. '13, 1934 aasnnvom nvnwau.

Joseph Clarence Gilbert, Dallas, Ten, assignor oi one-third to R. F.Gildehaua, .ln, Dallas,

Tex.

Application August at, 1928. sci-nu No. 302,389 Claims. (01.120-59),

This invention relates to improvements in receptacles for ink or otherliquids, and particularly to such receptacles as employ the constanthead principle for maintaining the liquid level in a I well associatedwith a reservoir.

The invention is especially adapted for use as an ink well, but thisreservoir container may be used to held many other substances,especially those subject to high evaporation, such as points,

10 lacquers, thinners and glues.

One 01' the primary objects of the present invention is to furnish anink well including a pen well and reservoir, the reservoir being 01'such size as to contain a relatively large supply of ink,

16 and the pen well being relatively small. so as to hold only a smallamount of ink; the parts being combined with a constant head tube,whereby the ink in the pen well is maintained at a substantiallyconstant level.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ink well of thischaracter, in which the reservoir has only a single opening and thatcommunicating with the pen well, so that the reservoir when resting inits normal position, will always remain sealed or air-tight, due to theopening being sealed with the ink.

A further object is to provide an ink well of this type, in which one ofthe side walls of the reservoir is shaped to form an auxiliary base,whereby when the well is turned so as to rest on this auxiliary base,the reservoir may be filled by pouring the ink in through the pen well.

Another object of the invention is to furnish the reservoir 01 this wellwith a constant head tube having an air inlet end terminating throughany side 01' the reservoir other than the top of th reservoir.

A further and important object is to furnish a combined reservoir andpen well with a flood chamber or chambers communicating with the penwell, whereby when, due to changes in atmospheric pressure. or changesin temperature. cessive' ink is iorced from the reservoir into the penwell, the excess ink may overflow into the flood chamber or chambers,and thereby pre consider the preierred form of the invention, taken online 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on 00 line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a detail, taken online 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view 01' a modiflcation, in which thereservoir is much larger 66 than the reservoir oi. the main embodimentof the invention, and in which some of the parts are shaped differentlyfrom. the main embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view, taken on line 6--6of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a detail taken on line7-7 of Fig. 5."

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8--8 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and 8inclusive, the main parts may be made of a single piece of glass or thelike, forming a plural compartment receptacle; 'This receptacle includesthe supply reservoir 10 which has a top 11, an inclined front wall 12,step shaped side walls 13, a bottom 14, and a plain rear wall 15 whichis adapted to act as an auxiliary base when the receptacle is turnedupwardly, so as to rest on the wall 15. This is for filling purposes,-and will be referred to hereinafter.

A vertical partition 16 extends transversely across the forward portionof the receptacle and connects the top and bottom and the side walls 01the reservoir 10, and this partition separates the reservoir from a dipwell or pen well 17.

It will be observed that the reservoir 10 is entirely closed with theexception of a single opening 18 which is arranged at the lower end ofthe partition, and places the reservoir anddip well in communication.

Vertical ribs or partitions 19 extend forwardly from the partition 16 atopposite sides of the pen well, and assist in forming flood chambers 20,which extend into the stepped portions of the si walls 13, as best shownin Fig. 3.

Openings or ports 21, place the flood chambers in communication with thepen well. 1

A feeding member 22, formed of any suitable material, is arranged mainlywithin the dip well, and extends through the. opening 18, into thereservoir 10, and this member is provided with a central trough 23, andwith inverted side troughs 24, the latter communicating with thereservoir 10 by means of apertures 25. The member 22 allows ink to flowthrough the trough 23, and air to flow 110 through the troughs 24 andapertures 25 during filling of the reservoir.

The structure also includes a pen tube or holder 26 that extends throughan aperture in the top of the pen well, and is detachably connected tosaid top by a bayonet joint 2'7. This tube has longitudinal grooves 28in its bore, (see Fig. '8) so as to allow air to flow past a pen holder,while the latter is occupying the tube.

The grooves 28 admit air pressure to the space in the pen well when thepen staff, which fits the bore, is inserted in said tube. In thisposition, the admittance of dust is practically eliminated by the penstaff, and evaporation is reduced to a minimum because, air circulationcannot take place to any appreciable extent. Evaporation of ink in thepen well occurs only to the amount required to saturate the smallquantity of air within the pen well, and if this air is not displacedthrough circulation, further evaporation cannot take place.

A constant head tube 29 for admitting air to the reservoir 10 has itsoutlet end connected to the front wall of the reservoir at a point 30which is below the top 11, and the lower end of this tube extends to apoint where the liquid level in thepen well is to be maintained. Thistube maintains, at constant temperature and atmospheric pressure orfalling temperature and pressure, the

liquid level in pen well 17, at a height H, said height being eitherabove or below the floors 31 of the flood chambers, as desired.

The air inlet end of the tube 29 may be at any suitable location, solong as it is above the tube end terminating within the reservoir, butin my construction, it is below the normal top and in a particular side,so that ink cannot run out of it when filling the well. This particularside is the one opposite the auxiliary base, because it becomes the topwhen the well is turned on its auxiliary base for the purpose offilling. The air inlet of the pressure tube should terminate oppositethe auxiliary base at a point above the level of ink existing in thereservoir, when the ink well is resting on said auxiliary base, and thereservoir is full.

It is preferable to have the height H above the flood plane level, sothat the planes or floor surfaces of the flood chambers will always becovered with liquid to prevent ink drying on the planes when the levelrecedes to the height H after flooding.

When the ink well is exposed to increasing temperature, the air in thereservoir 10 will expand, thus forcing ink through opening 18, out intothe pen well 1'7. Expansion will cease when the partial pressure of theair, plus the height of liquid in the reservoir, above the lower end ofthe tube 29, equals the pressure of the atmosphere, which acts at thelower end of the tube.

In order to minimize this rise of liquid in the pen 'well 1'7, the floodchambers 20 are provided, and they have ample surface over which theliquid forced out of the reservoir by the expanding air, may spread. Itis manifest that with sufiicient surface, the rise of the liquid can beheld to a very small amount, so small in fact, as to make no material orobjectionable difference in the quantity of ink taken up by the peninserted in the pen well from time to time.

Withfalling temperature, any ink in the pen well 1'7, above the heightH, will be drawn back into the reservoir, through passage 18, untilequalization of the pressure at the lower end of the tube 29 has beenrestored. It the temperature should continue to fall after the ink inthe pen well is lowered to the height H, air will pass into thereservoir through the tube 29, until the pressure balance is reached.

To fill the reservoir, the pen sleeve 26 is removed from the top of thepen well, and the device is then set up on its side wall 15, which atthis time, functions as a temporary base. The ink is then poured from asuitable container into the well 17, from which it will flow into thereservoir 10. The wings 19, at this time, form a chute which directs theflow of the ink to the passage 18, and prevents the ink from flowinginto the flood chambers.

The member 22 fitted into the passageway 18, extends into the reservoir10, far enough to expose the holes 25, and as before stated, it isshaped to divide the opening 18 into three passageways. The central oneof these passageways, allows the ink to flow from the pen well into thereservoir 10, while the side passageways permit the air displaced withinthe reservoir to pass out to the atmosphere without interference withthe flow of ink into the reservoir. When the reservoir has been filledup to the member 22 and the ink closes the inner ends of the sidepassageways, the remaining air may escape through the holes 25, as thefilling is completed.

When filled, the ink well is simply turned on to its normal base 14, andthe ink will flow through the opening 18, into the pen well to theheight H. The pen sleeve 26 is then restored to its original position,and the ink well is ready for use.

It may be stated that it is not necessary to completely fill thereservoir, as it may be partially filled to any convenient amount. It isalso unnecessary to empty the ink well before filling, and ink may beadded from time to time, as desired, whether the ink well is partly fullor empty. As only a small quantity of the ink is open to the atmosphere, it is obvious that the present device will conserve the ink toa great extent.

The grooves 28 in the pen sleeve, permit equali zation of air pressurein the pen well with the at mosphere, while a pen holder occupies thesleeve. Instead of a pen sleeve of the character disclosed, a cap (Fig.5) may. be provided for the opening in the top of the pen well. Such capshould be fitted to prevent admission of dust and appreciableevaporation, but it should not be air-tight.

If suitable closures are provided for the tubes 26 and 29, it is obviousthat liquid may be safely shipped within the container.

It will be readily seen that this invention may be embodied in the formof containers of many different shapes and proportions, other than thoseshown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. For instance, it may be embodied in astructure of the character shown in Figs. 5 to '7 inclusive. In thisform of the invention, the side wall of the reservoir is cir these partsmay be permanently joined at 52 in 3' manufacture, so that thereservoir, when the i111;

well is resting in its normal position, will always be sealed or airtight, once it is so made.

In this form of the invention, a single flood chamber 53 of. annularshape is used, and this chamber communicates with the pen well 54 at thepoints 55.

This form of the invention operates in the same manner as the structureshown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and filling is accomplished in asimilar manner. The pen sleeve is removed and the ink well is turnedover to rest on flat portion 56, Fig. 6,'formed in the base opposite thepen we1l,'which flat portion prevents the ink well from timing orrolling while ink is poured into the pen well until thereservoir isfilled.

While I have disclosed preferred embodiments of the invention, I amaware that various changes maybe made in the details disclosed, withoutdeparting from'the spirit of the invention, as expressed inthe claims.What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A container comprising mainly a reservoir and a dip well, havingaflood chamber communicating with said reservoir through the dip well,said flood chamber being formed by an enlargement of said dipwellarranged adjacentto a portion of said reservoir, said flood chamberof such size relative to capacity of said reservoir as to maintain therise of liquid in the dip well within a desirable limit, when the saidcontainer is subjected to normal range of temperature change.

2. In an ink well, a receptacle divided internally by partitions to forma reservoir, a pen well and a flood chamber, having a capacity greaterthan the pen well communicating directly with the pen well, and the penwell communicating with the reservoir, said pen well having an openingto atmosphere, and an air tube extending downwardly through one wall ofthe reservoir and terminating at a level in substantially the same planeas the floor of the flood chamber.

3. In an ink well, a closed reservoir, a smaller pen well communicatingwith the reservoir through a suitable opening, the well having a port topermit a pen to be dipped into the latter, an air tube extending througha wall of the reservoir and terminating at a level below the top of thepen well, and means arranged in the opening between the reservoir andpen well for guiding ink from the well into the reservoir during thefilling of the latter, while maintaining said ink out of contact withair discharging through said opening.

4. An ink well, including a relatively large reservoir and a smaller inkchamber communicating with each other through an opening, and acorrugated member extending through said'opening and having air portsextending through the portion of the member which extends into thereservoir.

5. In an ink well, a reservoir, a pen well, the well having a portplacing the reservoir and well in communication, and a corrugated memberex tending through said port and having ridged portions provided withopenings to permit air to escape from the reservoir while ink is flowingfrom the well to the reservoir on the corrugated member.

6. In an ink well, a dip well, a reservoir, the well having a portplacing the well and reservoir in communication, said well having anopening to permit a pen to be dipped in the latter, an air tubeextending through one wall of the reservoir and terminating within thelatter in close proximity to said port and at a predetermined heightfrom its bottom, wings arranged at the sides of the pen well, and floodchambers communicating with said well and arranged at opposite sides ofthe reservoir.

7. In an ink well, a receptacle including a reservoir having steppedshaped side walls, a partition arranged in the receptacle and joiningthe forward ends of said side walls, said partition dividing thereceptacle into a plurality of compartments, one of said compartmentsforming a pen well and the other forming said reservoir, wings in thereceptacle forming the side walls of the pen well, flood chambersarranged -within the receptacle and extending along the stepped portionsof said side walls, and ports placing the pen well in communication withthe resrvoir and flood chambers.

8. In a structure of the character described, a receptacle dividedinternally by partitions to form a reservoir, a pen well and floodchambers, the flood chambers being arranged abovethe bottom of the penwell and communicating with the latter in such manner as to receive inkfrom the well when the level of the latter rises unduly in the well, thepen well communicatingwith the reservoir below the floodchambers, saidpen well having an opening to atmosphere, and an air tube extendingdownwardly through one wall of the reservoir and terminatng at alevelin. substantially the same plane as the floors of the flood chambers.

9. In an ink well, a receptacle divided internally by partitions to forma reservoir, a pen well and flood chambers, the flood chambers beingpositioned above the lower portion of the well and communicating withthewell, means placing the reservoir in communication with the pen well, apen supporting tube extending upwardly from the well, and an air tubeextending downwardly through one wall of the reservoir and terminatingat a level in substantially the same plane as the floors of the floodchambers.

10. In an ink well, a reservoir which is closed except the openingthrough which the ink is normally taken, said ink well having a normalbase and an auxiliary base which is used when the reservoir of the inkwell is being filled, and a constant head tube with the air inlet endterminating opposite said auxiliary base, at a point above the level ofink in the reservoir existing when said container is resting on saidauxiliary base, and the reservoir is full.

JOSEPH CLARENCE GILBERT.

